Much sought after out-of-print solo LP by San Francisco/Chicago guitar legend Nick "The Greek" Gravenites, best known for his work with Janis Joplin, The Butterfield Blues Band, Big Brother & the Holding Company and Quicksilver Messenger Service, gets its first CD release. Originally released on LP by the Line label in 1980, 'Bluestar' features John Cipollina (Quicksilver) on guitar and Huey Lewis on harmonica. Foremost reissue label Renaissance Records in conjunction with ItsAboutMusic.com will be releasing the digitally remastered CD on December 8, 2009.
Nick Gravenites grew up on the southside of Chicago hanging out in the mid-50's with fellow musicians Elvin Bishop, Paul Butterfield, Michael Bloomfield, who went on to form The Butterfield Blues Band. Learning first-hand from the southside blues greats like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush, The Butterfield Blues Band burst onto the music scene redefining the blues.
From the late 50's through the mid 60's, Gravenites travelled between Chicago and San Francisco, settling in the Bay Area in 1965. In addition to The Butterfield Blues Band, Gravenites has written and worked wth the likes of Janis Joplin (Nick wrote the song "Buried Alive In The Blues", but sadly Janis died the night before her scheduled time in the studio and the song appeared as an instrumental on her album), Michael Bloomfield, the Electric Flag (of which Gravenites was a founding member), Pure Prairie League, Tracy Nelson, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy Witherspoon as well as blues legends Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, and James Cotton. He has appeared on over 40 albums as singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
Nick is also responsible for writing the score for the film 'The Trip', and produced the music for the movie 'Steelyard Blues'. He produced the world hit "One Toke Over the Line" for Brewer &Shipley and the album 'Right Place-Wrong Time' for Otis Rush for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award. Nick also worked extensively with John Cipollina after producing the first Quicksilver Messenger Service album. They formed the Nick GravenitesJohn Cipollina Band and completed several tours in Europe. Nick still performs live in northern California today. He was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003 for his song "Born In Chicago", and most recently toured with the Chicago Blues Reunion, and a new Electric Flag Band.
Nick Gravenites 'Bluestar' will be available from Amazon, iTunes and your local retailer on December 8th. Other titles scheduled for release by Renaissance Records include Graham Parker &The Rumour 'Live In San Francisco 1979', Network - s/t and 'Nightwork', Duke Jupiter 'White Knuckle Ride', Fran King 'My Sweet Elixir', City Boy 'It's Personal', Phoenix - s/t and 'In Full View' (ex-Argent), Unicorn - 'Blue Pine Trees', 'Too Many Crooks' (prod. by David Gilmour), and Roxy Music 'Manifesto Alive' (live 1979).
